Ventilation apparatus

ABSTRACT

A ventilation apparatus is provided. The ventilation apparatus may include a base, frames positioned on the base, a rear panel positioned behind the frames and having an interior air discharge port and exterior air suction port formed therein, a top cover positioned on top of the frame and having exterior air discharge port formed therein, and a front panel positioned in front of the frames and having an interior air discharge port formed therein. Heat exchangers disposed in the frames may include interior and exterior air passages. An exhaust fan and air supply fans provide for air flow through the apparatus, guide by the frames. Use of the frames to guide air flow simplify structures and may enhance efficiency by simplifying the passages of the exterior and interior air through the apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to KoreanApplication No. 10-2011-0088645 filed on Sep. 1, 2011 and10-2011-0092643 filed on Sep. 14, 2011, whose entire disclosures arehereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This relates to a ventilation apparatus.

2. Background

In general, a ventilation apparatus may supply exterior air to aninterior space and exhaust interior air to the exterior, and mayminimize interior heat loss by performing heat-exchange between theinterior air and the exterior air. Such a ventilation apparatus mayinclude an exhausting blower exhausting interior air to the exterior, anair-supplying blower supplying exterior air to the interior, and a heattransfer heat exchanger performing heat-exchange between the interiorair exhausted by the exhausting blower and the exterior air air-suppliedby the air-supplying blower. Such a ventilation apparatus may be, forexample, embedded into a ceiling, with a ceiling insert type ventilationapparatus connecting the interior and the exterior by ducts to exhaustthe interior air to the exterior through the ducts and to supply theexterior air to the interior through the ducts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ventilation apparatus in accordancewith a first embodiment as broadly described herein.

FIG. 2 is a disassembled perspective view of the ventilation apparatusshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front interior view of the ventilation apparatus shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a rear interior view of the ventilation apparatus shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a service cover and an interior air filter ofthe ventilation apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 is a disassembled perspective view of the ventilation apparatushaving a front panel thereof separated therefrom.

FIG. 7 is a disassembled perspective view of a ventilation apparatus inaccordance with a second embodiment as broadly described herein.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a plurality of service covers of theventilation apparatus shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of a plurality of service covers of aventilation apparatus in accordance with another embodiment as broadlydescribed herein.

FIG. 10 is a disassembled perspective view of a ventilation apparatus inaccordance with a third embodiment as broadly described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A ventilation apparatus in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIGS.1-5 may include a casing 2 that defines an exterior of the apparatusthereof. The ventilation apparatus may be positioned in a space to beventilated and may be connected to the exterior by a ventilating duct 3.The ventilating duct 3 may provide for communication between an interiorand an exterior of the casing 2. The ventilating duct 3 may extendthrough a wall of a building. A partition 3′ may be formed in the insideof the ventilating duct 3 to partition an air supply passage from anexhaust passage in the duct 3. The casing 2 may include interior airsuction ports 4, 6, an interior air discharge port 8, an exterior airsuction port 10 and exterior air discharge ports 12, 14. The ventilationapparatus may suction interior air in through the interior air suctionports 4, 6 and may discharge the suctioned interior air to the exteriorthrough the ventilation duct 3. The ventilation apparatus may suctionexterior air in through the ventilation duct 3 and may discharge thesuctioned exterior air into the interior through the exterior airdischarge ports 12, 14.

The casing 2 may include a base 16, a rear panel 18, a front panel 20,and a top cover 22.

The base 16 may define a bottom surface of the ventilation apparatus.The base 16 may include a bottom plate 16A, a left plate 16B thatprotrudes upward from a left end of the bottom plate 16A, and a rightplate 16 c that protrudes upward from a right end of the bottom plate16A. An adjusting leg 17 including a screw portion and a bracketsupporting the screw portion may be provided at the base 16. When thescrew portion is turned in one direction, such as, for example, rotatedclockwise or counterclockwise, the bracket moves away from the base 16to adjust (increase) a height of the ventilation apparatus. Inversely,when the screw portion is turned in the opposite direction, the bracketand the base 16 approach each other to adjust (decrease) the height ofthe ventilation apparatus.

The rear panel 18 may define the back surface of the ventilationapparatus, with the interior air discharge port 8 and the exterior airsuction port 10 extending therethrough. As shown in FIG. 4, the rearpanel 18 may be formed so that the interior air discharge port 8 and theexterior air suction port 10 may be vertically spaced apart from eachother. For example, the interior air discharge port 8 may be positionedabove the exterior air suction port 10. The ventilation duct 3 may beconnected to the rear panel 18 so that the exhaust passage formed abovethe partition 3′ may communicate with the interior air discharge port 8and the air supply passage formed below the partition 3′ may communicatewith the exterior air suction port 10.

The front panel 20 may define the front surface of the ventilationapparatus.

At least one of the rear panel 18 or the front panel 20 may also includeportions thereof that define the lateral side surfaces of theventilation apparatus. In one embodiment, the rear panel 18 may definethe back surface of the ventilation apparatus, and the front panel 20may define the front surface and both lateral side surfaces of theventilation apparatus. However, in alternative embodiments, the rearpanel 18 may define the back surface and both lateral side surfaces ofthe ventilation apparatus, and the front panel 20 may define the frontsurface of the ventilation apparatus. Alternatively, the rear panel 18may define the back surface of the ventilation apparatus, the frontpanel 20 may define the front surface of the ventilation apparatus, andportions of the rear panel 18 and the front panel 20 may together definethe two lateral side surfaces of the ventilation apparatus.

The rear panel 18 may include a back plate 18A in which the interior airdischarge port 8 and the exterior air suction port 10 are formed, a leftplate 18B that protrudes forward from the left end of the back plate18A, and a right plate 18C that protrudes forward from the right end ofthe back plate 18A. Further, the front panel 20 may include a frontplate 20A, a left plate 20B that protrudes backward from the left end ofthe front plate 20A, and a right plate 20C that protrudes backward fromthe right end of the front plate 20A. The interior air suction ports 4,6 may be formed in one of the left side surface and/or the right sidesurface of the casing 2. In particular, the interior air suction ports4, 6 may be respectively formed in the left and right plate 18B, 18C ofthe rear panel 18, or in the left and right plate 20B, 20C of the frontpanel 20, depending on how the front panel 20 and the rear panel 18 areconfigured.

There may be a gap at an area where the front panel 20 contacts the rearpanel 18. When a length of the left and right side plates 20B, 20C ofthe front panel 20 in the front and back direction is greater than alength of the left and right side plates 18B, 18C of the rear panel 18in the front and back direction, a gap between the rear panel 18 and thefront panel 20 is not easily seen or noticed in the interior space inwhich the ventilation apparatus is installed. Thus, in the exemplaryembodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, the left and right side plates 20B, 20Cof the front panel 20 are formed longer in the front and back directionthan the left and right side plates 18B, 18C of the rear panel 18, andthe interior air suction ports 4, 6 are formed in the left and rightplates 20B, 20C of the front panel 20.

The interior air suction ports 4, 6 may be formed at positionscorresponding to interior air passages 38, 39 to be described later.

A top cover 22 may define a top surface of the ventilation apparatus.The top cover 22 may have the exterior air discharge ports 12, 14 formedtherein.

Heat transfer heat exchangers 32, 34 may be installed in the casing 2 toperform heat-exchange between the interior air to be exhausted to theexterior and the exterior air to be supplied to the interior. The heatexchangers 32, 34 may have exterior air passages 36, 37 to guide theflow of the exterior air and interior air passages 38, 39 to guide theflow of the interior air.

The exterior air passages 36, 37 may extend in one direction, forexample, vertically. The heat transfer heat exchangers 32, 34 may bedisposed so that the exterior air is introduced into the bottom surfaceof the exterior air passages 36, 37 and discharged at the top surface ofthe exterior air passages 36, 37. The interior air passages 38, 39 mayextend in another direction, for example, horizontally. The heattransfer heat exchangers 32, 34 may be disposed so that the interior airis introduced into one of the left or the right side surface thereof anddischarged at the other of the left or the right side surface thereof.

A front shield member may be positioned at front surfaces of the heatexchangers 32, 34, and a rear shield member may be positioned at rearsurfaces of the heat exchangers 32, 34. A plurality of heat transfermembers may be disposed between the front shield member and the rearshield member to facilitate heat exchange between the exterior air andthe interior air while also partitioning the exterior air passages 36,37 and the interior air passages 38, 39.

The exterior air passages 36, 37 and the interior air passages 38, 39may be alternately formed in the front and back direction. The left andright surfaces of the exterior air passages 36, 37 may be blocked, andthe top and bottom surfaces thereof may be opened. The top and bottomsurfaces of the interior air passages 38, 39 may be blocked, and theleft and right surfaces thereof may be opened.

An exhaust fan 42 may draw the interior air into the interior airpassages 38, 39, and air supply fans 44, 46 may draw the exterior airinto the exterior air passages 36, 37.

The exhaust fan 42 suctions the interior air into the interior airsuction ports 4, 6, through the interior air passages 38, 39 of the heattransfer heat exchangers 32, 34 horizontally, and then, may dischargethe interior air through the interior air discharge port 8. The airsupply fans 44, 46 suction the exterior air into the exterior airsuction port 10, through the exterior air passages 36, 37 of the heattransfer heat exchangers 32, 34 vertically, and then, may discharge theexterior air through the exterior air discharge ports 12, 14.

A frame 50, in which at least one of the heat exchangers 32, 34, theexhaust fan 42 and/or the air supply fans 44, 46 is disposed, may beprovided in the inside of the casing 2. The frame 50 may be disposed ontop of the base 16, with the rear panel 18 behind the frame 50, thefront panel 20 in the front of the frame 50 and the top cover 22 on topof the frame 50. In certain embodiments, the heat exchangers 32, 34 maybe disposed in the frame 50 and the exhaust fan 42 may be positionednext to the heat exchangers 32, 34, in the rear panel 18, with the airsupply fans 44, 46 positioned in the frame 50.

The frame 50 may include lower frames 52, 54, vertical frames 80, 82,and upper frames 84, 86. The heat exchangers 32, 34 may be fixed intothe lower frames 52, 54, vertical frames 80, 82, and upper frames 84,86. In particular, the heat exchangers 32, 34 may be seated on the lowerframes 52, 54, and the vertical frames 80, 82 and the upper frames 84,86 may limit movement of the heat exchangers 32, 34 seated on the lowerframes 52, 54.

The frame 50 may form exterior air suction passages 56, 58 between theheat exchangers 32, 34 and the base 16.

The lower frames 52, 54 may allow the bottom surfaces of the heatexchangers 32, 34 to be spaced apart from the base 16. The lower frames52, 54 may define the exterior air suction passages 56, 58 together withthe bottom surface of the heat exchangers 32, 34 and the bottom plate16A of the base 16. The exterior air blown from the air supply fans 44,46 passes through the exterior air suction passages 56, 58 and may bemoved into the exterior air passages of the heat exchangers 32, 34. Thelower frames 52, 54 may form openings 60, 62 that guide the exterior airblown from the air supply fans 44, 46 to the exterior air passages 36,37. The openings 60, 62 may be formed in the bottom of the heatexchanger 32, 34. The lower frames 52, 54 may include first lowerhorizontal frames 64, 66 disposed on the bottom plate 16A of the base 16and second lower horizontal frames 68, 70 vertically spaced apart fromthe first lower horizontal frames 64, 66. The lower frames 52, 54 mayalso include first lower connecting frames 72, 74 connecting one end ofthe first lower horizontal frames 64, 66 to a corresponding end of thesecond lower horizontal frames 72, 74 and second lower connecting frames76, 78 connecting the other end of the first lower horizontal frames 64,66 to a corresponding end to a corresponding end of the second lowerhorizontal frames 68, 70.

The vertical frames 80, 82 may be arranged vertically with respect tothe lower frames 52, 54. The vertical frames 80, 82 may form openings81, 83 that guide the interior air from the interior air passages 38, 39to the exhaust fan 42.

The upper frames 84, 86 may be disposed on top of the vertical frames80, 82. The upper frames 84, 86 may form openings 85, 87 that guide theexterior air from the exterior air passages 36, 37 into the interiorspace.

The ventilation apparatus may include interior air filters 88, 90positioned between the interior air suction ports 4, 6 and the interiorair passages 38, 39. The interior air filters 88, 90 may filter theinterior air suctioned into the interior air passages 38, 39 and preventforeign substances from entering into the interior air passages 38, 39of the heat transfer heat exchangers 32, 34. If, for example, theinterior air is suctioned through the left surfaces of the heatexchangers 32, 34, the interior air filters 88, 89 may be positionedbetween the left surfaces of the heat exchangers 32, 34 and the interiorair suction ports 4, 6. If instead the interior air is suctioned throughthe right surfaces of the heat exchangers 32, 34, the interior airfilters 88, 90 may be positioned between the right surfaces of the heatexchangers 32, 34 and the interior air suction ports 4, 6.

The frame 50 may include filter frames 92, 94 to which the interior airfilters 88, 90 may be attached/detached. The filter frames 92, 94 mayinclude openings 91, 93 that guide interior air toward the interior airpassages 38, 39. The filter frames 92, 94 may include filter guides 96,98 that slidably receive and guide movement of the interior air filters88, 90 in the front and back direction. The filter frames 92, 94 mayconnect the lower frames 52, 54 and the upper frames 84, 86. The heatexchangers 32, 34 may be fixed by the filter frames 92, 94, the lowerframes 52, 54, the vertical frames 80, 82, and the upper frames 84, 86.

The air supply fans 44, 46 may be positioned next to the lower frame 52.The frame 50 may further include air supply fan mounts 100, 102 in whichthe air supply fans 44, 46 are supported. The air supply fan mounts 100,102 may be coupled with the lower frames 52, 54 and verticallypositioned in the inside of the casing 2.

The frame 50 may also include a partition plate 112 that partitions anexterior air suction chamber 108 in which the air supply fans 44, 46 arepositioned, and an interior air exhaust chamber 110 in which the exhaustfan 42 is positioned. The partition plate 112 may prevent mixing of theinterior air suctioned from the interior with the exterior air suctionedfrom the exterior. The exterior air suction chamber 108 may be formedbetween the bottom plate 16A of the base 16 and the partition plate 112.The interior air exhaust chamber 110 may be formed between the top cover22 and the partition plate 112. The top surface of the partition plate112 may form an interior air passage, and the bottom surface of thepartition plate 112 may form an exterior air passage. The partitionplate 112 may establish an installation space for the air supply fans44, 46 while also allowing space for a maximum height of the heatexchangers 32, 34. The partition plate 112 may include a horizontalplate 114 positioned next to the heat exchangers 32, 34 and inclinationplates 116, 118 extending at an incline from opposite edges of thehorizontal plate 114 toward the bottom end of the heat exchangers 32,34.

The frame 50 may include a shield plate 120 positioned between theexhaust fan 42 and the top cover 22 to prevent exterior air dischargedat the top of the exterior air passages 36,37 of the heat exchangers 32,34 from flowing backward into the exhaust fan 42.

The ventilation apparatus may also include a controller 122 received onthe shield plate 120 and controlling the exhaust fan 42 and the airsupply fans 44, 46. The shield plate 120 may include a controllerreceiving space 121 defined by a bottom plate on which the controller122 is mounted, side plates extending upward from the bottom plate andspaced apart from the heat exchanger holders 76, 78, and top plateextending outward from the respective side plates to the top of the heatexchanger holders 76, 78. The front surface of the controller receivingspace 121 may remain open service of the controller 122.

As shown in FIG. 2, the exhaust fan 42 may include a fan housing 130, ablower 132 in the fan housing 130, and a motor 136 connected to theblower 132 by a rotation shaft. In certain embodiments, the fan housing130 may be disposed in the rear panel 18. An air suction port suctioningthe interior air into the inside of the fan housing 130 may be formed ineach of the left and right surfaces thereof, and an air discharge port138 discharging the interior air may protrude backward from the fanhousing 130, in communication with the interior air discharge port 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, the air supply fans 44, 46 may each include a fanhousing 140, a blower 142 rotating in the fan housing 140, and a motor144 disposed in the fan housing 140 and rotating the blower 142. The fanhousing 140 may be disposed in air supply fan mounts 100, 102 of theframe 50. An air suction port suctioning the exterior air into theinside of the fan housing 140 may be formed in each of the front andback surface thereof, and an air discharging port 146 discharging theexterior air may extend outward in a side direction from an outercircumferential thereof, excluding the front and rear surfaces of thefan housing 140 where air suction ports are formed.

The ventilation apparatus may include exterior air filters 151, 152 thatfilter the exterior air directed toward the exterior air passages 36,37. The exterior air filters 151, 152 may be disposed at the bottom ofthe heat exchangers 32, 34 to prevent foreign substances from enteringinto the exterior air passages 36, 37 of the heat exchangers 32, 34. Theexterior air filters 151, 152 may be disposed within the heat exchangers32, 34, or provided on the lower frames 52, 54. Hereinafter, simply forease of discussion it will be assumed that the exterior air filters 151,152 are disposed in the heat exchangers 32, 34. The heat exchangers 32,34 may include a plurality of heat transfer members 153, 154, heattransfer member frames 155, 156 respectively supporting the plurality ofheat transfer members 153, 154, and exterior air filter guides 157, 158in the bottom of the heat transfer member frames 155, 156 that allow theexterior air filters 151, 152 to be slidably detached, in a front andback direction, from the exterior air filter guides 157, 158.

The ventilation apparatus may include a service cover 160 coupled withthe frame 50 and covering a front surface of the frame 50. Whenseparating the front panel 20, the service cover 160 may remain in placeso that the heat exchangers 32, 34, air supply fans 44, 46, and exhaustfan 42 are not exposed to the outside. The service cover 160 may befastened to the frame 50 by fasteners such as, for example, screws. Thefilter frames 92, 94 may remain exposed with the service cover 160installed on the frame 50 so that the interior air filters 88, 90 may beremoved and replaced without separating the service cover 160. A groove162 may be formed in front of the controller 122 to allow the controller122 to be serviced without separating the service cover 160.

In a ventilation apparatus as embodied and broadly described herein, theheat exchangers 32, 34 may include the left heat exchanger 32 and theright heat exchanger 34 spaced apart from each other, side by side, inthe inside of the casing 2, with the left air supply fan 44 movingexterior air into the left heat exchanger 32 and the right air supplyfan 46 moving exterior air into the right heat exchanger 34.

The left interior air suction port 4 may be formed on the left lateralside of the front panel 20 corresponding to the left heat exchanger 32and the right interior air suction port 6 may be formed on the rightlateral side of the front panel 20 corresponding to the right heatexchanger 34.

The left exterior air discharge port 12 may be formed in the top cover22 corresponding to the top of the left heat exchanger 32 and the rightexterior air discharge port 14 may be formed in the top cover 22corresponding to the top of the right heat exchanger 34.

In a ventilation apparatus as embodied and broadly described herein, thelower frames 52, 54 may include the left lower frame 52 on which theleft heat exchanger 32 is seated and the right lower frame 54 on whichthe right heat exchanger 34 is seated, with the left vertical frame 80supporting the right side of the left heat exchanger 32 and the rightvertical frame 82 supporting the left side of the right heat exchanger34, and the left upper frame 84 fixed to the top of the left heatexchanger 32 and the right upper frame 86 fixed to the top of the rightheat exchanger 34.

The left filter frame 92 may be connected to the left lower frame 52 andthe left upper frame 84, and the right filter frame 94 may be connectedto the right lower frame 54 and the right upper frame 86.

In a ventilation apparatus as embodied and broadly described herein, theleft interior air filter 88 may be provided at the left of the left heatexchanger 32 and the right interior air filter 90 may be provided at theright of the right heat exchanger 34.

The left of the partition plate 112 may be connected to at least one ofthe left lower frame 52 or the left vertical frame 80 and the right ofthe partition plate 112 may be connected to at least one of the rightlower frame 54 or the right vertical frame 82.

The left of the shield plate 120 may be connected to at least one of theleft vertical frame 80 or the left upper frame 80 and the right of theshield plate 120 may be connected to at least one of the right verticalframe 82 or the right upper frame 86.

The left exterior air filter 151 may be provided at the bottom of theleft heat exchanger 32 and the right exterior air filter 152 may beprovided at the bottom of the right heat exchanger 34.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a service cover and an interior air filter ofthe ventilation apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-4.

A width D1 of the service cover 160, between the left and right endsthereof, may be shorter than a separation distance D2 between the leftinterior air filter 88 in the left filter frame 92 and the rightinterior air filter 90 in the right filter frame 94.

When separating the front panel 20, the service cover 160, the leftinterior air filter 88, and the right interior air filter 90 may beexposed. The left interior air filter 88 may be withdrawn at the leftend of the service cover 160 without separating the service cover 160from the frame 50. Similarly, the right interior air filter 90 may bewithdrawn at the right end of the service cover 160 without separatingthe service cover 160 from the frame 50.

As shown in the disassembled perspective view of FIG. 6, the ventilationapparatus may also include a plurality of cover brackets 164, 166coupled to the service cover 160, and a plurality of panel brackets 168,170 provided on the front panel 20. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6,the plurality of cover brackets 164, 166 are disposed horizontally toreinforce strength of the service cover 160. The plurality of coverbrackets 164, 166 may be fixed to the service cover 160 by fastenerssuch as, for example, screws, or by adhering means such as adhesives, orby welding such as spot welding. The plurality of cover brackets 164,166 may include an upper cover bracket 164 provided closer to the top ofthe service cover 160 and a lower cover bracket 166 provided in parallelto the upper cover bracket 164 and closer to the bottom of the servicecover 160.

The plurality of panel brackets 168, 170 may be positioned to correspondto the plurality of cover brackets 164, 166, such as, for example,horizontally to reinforce strength of the front panel 20, as shown inFIG. 6. When installing the front panel 20, the plurality of panelbrackets 168, 170 may be inserted into the plurality of cover brackets164, 166, thereby increasing the strength of the front panel 20 and theservice cover 160 and preventing random separation of the front panel20. The plurality of panel brackets 168, 170 may be fixed to the frontpanel 20 by the adhering means such as adhesives, or by welding such asthe spot welding. The plurality of panel brackets 168, 170 may includean upper panel bracket 168 and a lower panel bracket 170, with the upperpanel bracket 168 positioned near the upper cover bracket 164 to contactthe upper cover bracket 164 and the lower panel bracket 170 positionednear the lower cover bracket 166 to contact the lower cover bracket 166.

In an alternative embodiment, a separation distance between theplurality of panel brackets 168, 170 may be larger than that between theplurality of cover brackets 164, 166 so that the plurality of coverbrackets 164, 166 are positioned therebetween, or a separation distancebetween the plurality of panel brackets 168, 170 may be smaller thanthat between the plurality of cover brackets 164, 166 so that theplurality of panel brackets 168, 170 are positioned between theplurality of cover brackets 164, 166.

Operation of the ventilation apparatus configured as above will now bedescribed.

First, when driving the air supply fans 44, 46, exterior air issuctioned into the exterior air suction chamber 108 through the exteriorair suction port 10 and blown into the bottom of the heat exchangers 32,34 by the air supply fans 44, 46. At this point, the moving direction ischanged to an upward direction, and foreign substances are filtered fromthe exterior air by the exterior air filters 151, 152.

The exterior air passing through the exterior air filters 151, 152 isintroduced into the exterior air passages 36, 37 through the bottomsurface of the heat exchangers 32, 34, undergoes heat-exchange with theinterior air passing through the interior air passages 38, 39, and isdischarged through the top surface of the heat exchangers 32, 34. Theexterior air discharged through the top surface of the heat exchangers32, 34 is directly discharged into the interior space to be ventilatedthrough the exterior air discharge ports 12, 14 of the top cover 22.

The moving direction of the exterior air is first horizontally convertedin the exterior air suction chamber 108 and is then vertically convertedat the bottom of the heat exchangers 32, 34. Therefore, after convertingits moving direction twice, the heat-exchanged exterior air isdischarged into the interior space.

When driving the exhaust fan 42, the interior air is suctioned from theinterior space into the ventilation apparatus through the interior airsuction ports 4, 6, where foreign substances are filtered from theinterior air by the interior air filters 88, 90.

The interior air passing through the interior air filters 88, 90undergoes heat-exchange with the exterior air in the exterior airpassages 36, 37 while passing through the interior air passages 38, 39of the heat exchangers 32, 34, is suctioned into the interior airexhaust chamber 110, through the exhaust fan 42, and is discharged tothe outside through the interior air discharge port 8.

The moving direction of the interior air is horizontally converted inthe interior air exhaust chamber 110. Therefore, after converting movingdirection only once the interior air is discharged to the outside.

FIG. 7 is a disassembled perspective view of a second embodiment ofventilation apparatus as broadly described herein, and FIG. 8 is a crosssectional view of service covers of the ventilation apparatus shown inFIG. 7.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a plurality of service covers 200, 202, 204,206, 208 may be mounted on the frame 50 by fasteners, such as screws,and may be separated from the frame 50 by releasing the fasteners. Theplurality of service covers may include first service covers 202, 204shielding the front of the heat exchangers 32, 34, and a second servicecover 206 shielding the fronts of the air supply fans 44, 46 and theexhaust fans 42.

The first service covers 202, 204 may prevent the exterior air blownfrom the air supply fans 44, 46 from leaking through the exterior airdischarging ports 12, 14 through the fronts of the exterior air filters151, 152 and the heat exchangers 32, 34. The exterior air blown from theair supply fans 44, 46 may be blocked by the first service covers 202,204 and guided to the exterior air filters 151, 152 and the exterior airpassages 36, 37 of the heat exchangers 32, 34 for discharge through theexterior air discharge ports 12, 14. The first service covers 202, 204may prevent the exhaust fan 42 from suctioning interior air through thefronts of the heat exchangers 32, 34. Rather, the interior air suctionedby the exhaust fan 42 is blocked by the first service covers 202, 204and guided to the interior air passages 38, 39 of the heat exchangers.The first service covers 202, 204 may cover the space between the endsof the vertical frames 80, 82 and the filter frames 92, 94 and may coverthe space between the ends of the upper frames 84, 86 of the lowerframes 52, 54. The first service covers 202, 204 may leave the front ofthe interior air filters 88, 90 exposed so that the interior air filters88, 90 may be serviced without removing the first service covers 202,204. The first service covers 202, 204 may include a first left servicecover 202 detachably coupled to the frame 50 and shielding the front ofthe left heat exchanger 32, and a first right service cover 204detachably coupled to the frame 50 and shielding the front of the rightheat exchanger 34. The first service covers 202, 204 may shield thefronts of the heat exchangers 32, 34 and also the exterior air filters151, 152.

The second service cover 206 may cover the space between the ends of theleft lower frame 52 and the right lower frame 54, the space between theends of the left vertical frame 80 and the right vertical frame 82, andthe space between the ends of the left upper frame 84 and the rightupper frame 86. The second service cover 206 may also cover the spacebetween the ends of the base 16 and the shield plate 120. A groove 207may be formed in the second service cover 206, in the front of thecontrol box 122, so that the controller 122 may be serviced withoutremoving the second service cover 206.

The plurality of service covers may further include third service covers208, 210 detachably coupled to the frame 50 and shielding the front ofthe exterior air suction passages 56, 58. The third service covers 208,210 may prevent the exterior air blown from the air supply fans 44, 46from leaking into the exterior air discharge ports 12, 14 through thefronts of the exterior air suction passages 56, 58, the exterior airfilters 151, 152, and the heat transfer heat exchangers 32, 34. Theexterior air blown from the air supply fans 44, 46 is guided to theexterior air suction passages 56, 58, the exterior air filters 151, 152,and the exterior air passages 36, 37 of the heat exchangers 32, 34 fordischarge through the exterior air discharge ports 12, 14. The thirdservice covers 208, 210 may cover the front surface of the lower frames52, 54. The third service covers 208, 210 may include a third leftservice cover 208 shielding the left exterior air suction passage 56 atthe bottom of the left heat exchanger 32, and a third right servicecover 210 shielding the right exterior air suction passage 58 at thebottom of the right heat exchanger 34. The third left service cover 208may cover the front surface of the left lower frame 52, and the thirdright service cover 210 may cover the front surface of the right lowerframe 54.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional of a plurality of service covers of aventilation apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 9, first service covers 202′ and 204′ may be detachablycoupled to the frame 50 to shield the front of the heat transfer heatexchangers 32,34 while leaving the front of the exterior air filters151, 152 exposed. Third service covers 208′ and 210′ may be detachablycoupled to the frame 50 to shield the fronts of the exterior air suctionpassages 56, 58 and also the exterior air filters 151, 152.

In this embodiment, to service the exterior air filters 151, 152,removal of the third service covers 208′, 210′, which are smaller insize, rather than the first service covers 202′, 204′, which are largersize, the exterior air filter 151, 152 may be more easily accessed.

FIG. 10 is a disassembled perspective view of a ventilation apparatus inaccordance with a fourth embodiment.

Similar to the second and third embodiments, the ventilation apparatusof the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 may include a plurality of servicecovers, and the plurality of service covers may include the firstservice covers 202′, 204′ and the second service cover 206′.

Similarly, the first service covers 202′, 204′ may be detachably coupledto the frame 50 to shield the front of the heat transfer heat exchangers32, 34 and the exterior air filters 151, 152 together. Like the secondembodiment, the first service covers 202′, 204′ may be detachablycoupled to the frame 50 to shield the fronts of the heat exchangers 32,34 while leaving the fronts of the exterior air filters 151, 152exposed.

The second service cover 206′may shield the fronts of the air supplyfans 44, 46, the exhaust fan 42, and the exterior air suction passages56, 58. When the first service covers 202′, 204′ shield the fronts ofthe heat exchangers 32, 34 and do not shield the fronts of the exteriorair filters 151, 152, the second service cover 206′ may shield thefronts of the air supply fans 44, 46, the exhaust fan 42, the exteriorair suction passages 56, 58, and the exterior air filters 151, 152.

In a ventilation apparatus in accordance with various embodiments asbroadly described herein, exterior and interior air passages may besimplified, thereby simplifying structures and to enhancing efficiency.The frame may efficiently guide the movement of the interior andexterior air without hindering the interior and exterior air and addingunnecessary flow resistance while also supporting the heat transfer heatexchanger. Further, it is possible to minimize losses of interior airand exterior air that have not passed through the heat transfer heatexchanger, thereby enhancing heat exchange performance of the heattransfer heat exchanger.

Additionally, the exterior air filter and/or the interior air filter maybe easily accessed for service.

In a ventilation apparatus as embodied and broadly described herein, allof an exterior side air passage and an interior side air passage may beformed horizontally, making structures of the air passage complex, withcomplex internal structures generating large losses.

A ventilation apparatus as embodied and broadly described herein mayinclude a base, frames disposed in the base, a rear panel disposed inthe back of the frames and formed with an interior air discharge portand exterior air suction port, a top cover disposed in the top of theframe and formed with the exterior air discharge port, a front paneldisposed in the front of the frame and formed with the interior airdischarge port, a heat transfer heat exchanger disposed in the frame andformed with an interior air passage and an exterior air passage, anexhaust fan moving an interior air into the interior air passage; and anair supply fan moving an exterior air into the exterior air passage,wherein the frames include a lower frame formed with an opening passingthe exterior air blown from the air supply fan; a vertical framevertical to the lower frame and formed with the opening passing theinterior air moved from the interior air passage, and an upper framedisposed in the top of the vertical frame and formed with the openingpassing the exterior air moved from the exterior air passage. The frontpanel may be formed with the interior air suction port next to theinterior air passage.

The ventilation apparatus may also include an exterior air filter,disposed in the bottom of the heat transfer heat exchanger, purifyingthe exterior air suctioned toward the exterior air passage.

The heat transfer heat exchanger may include a plurality of heattransfer members; a heat transfer member frame supporting the pluralityof heat transfer members; and an exterior air filter guide detached withthe exterior air filter and disposed in the bottom of the heat transfermember frame.

The lower frame may enable the bottom surface of the heat transfer heatexchanger to space apart from the base.

The ventilation apparatus may also include an interior air filter,disposed between the interior air suction port and the interior airpassage, purifying the interior air suctioned into the interior airpassage.

The frame may be formed with an opening passing the interior air movedtoward the interior air passage, and the ventilation apparatus mayfurther include a filter frame detached with the interior air filter.

The ventilation apparatus may also include a service cover coupled withthe frame and covering the front surface of the frame.

The ventilation apparatus may also include a first service coverdetached from the frame and shielding the front of the heat transferheat exchanger; and a second service cover detached from the frame andshielding the fronts of the air supply fan and the exhaust fan.

The first service cover may be detached from the frame not to shield thefront of the interior air filter.

The first service cover may be detached to shield the fronts of the heattransfer heat exchanger and the exterior air filter together.

The frame may form the exterior air suction passage suctioned with theexterior air in the bottom surface of the heat transfer heat exchangerbetween the heat transfer heat exchanger and the base.

The second service cover may be disposed to shield the fronts of the airsupply fan, the exhaust fan and the exterior air suction passagetogether.

The second service cover may be disposed to shield the fronts of the airsupply fan, the exhaust fan, the exterior air suction passage and theexterior air filter together.

The ventilation apparatus may also include a third service coverdisposed in the frame and shielding the front of the exterior airsuction passage.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Theappearances of such phrases in various places in the specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within thepurview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, orcharacteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

1. A ventilation apparatus, comprising: a base; a frame structureprovided on the base; a rear panel positioned at a rear of the framestructure and having an interior air discharge port and exterior airsuction port; a top cover positioned on top of the frame structure andhaving at least one exterior air discharge port; a front panelpositioned in front of the frame structure and having an interior airdischarge port; a heat exchanger provided in the frame and having aninterior air passage and an exterior air passage; an exhaust fan thatprovides interior air to the interior air passage; and an air supply fanthat provides exterior air to the exterior air passage, wherein theframe structure comprises: a lower frame having a first opening formedtherein that receives and guides exterior air from the air supply fan; avertical frame extending vertically with respect to the lower frame andhaving a second opening formed therein that receives and guides interiorair from the interior air passage; and an upper frame positioned at atop of the vertical frame and having a third opening formed therein thatreceives and guides exterior air from the exterior air passage.
 2. Theventilation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interior air passageguides interior air horizontally through the heat exchanger, and theexterior air passage guides exterior air vertically through the heatexchanger.
 3. The ventilation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the exhaustfan is positioned proximate the heat exchanger.
 4. The ventilationapparatus of claim 1, wherein the interior air suction port is formed inthe front panel at a position corresponding to the interior air passage.5. The ventilation apparatus of claim 6, wherein the heat exchangercomprises: a plurality of heat transfer members; a heat transfer memberframe supporting the plurality of heat transfer members in positionrelative to one another; and an exterior air filter guide provided at abottom of the heat transfer member frame, wherein the exterior airfilter is detachably coupled to the exterior air filter guide.
 6. Theventilation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an exterior airfilter provided at a bottom of the heat exchanger to filter exterior airdirected toward the exterior air passage.
 7. The ventilation apparatusof claim 1, wherein the lower frame maintains a predetermined separationspace between a bottom surface of the heat exchanger and the base. 8.The ventilation apparatus of claim 7, wherein the lower frame comprises:a first lower horizontal frame positioned on a bottom plate of the base;a second lower horizontal frame spaced vertically apart from the firstlower horizontal frame; a first lower connecting frame connecting afirst end of the first lower horizontal frame and a corresponding firstend of the second lower horizontal frame; and a second lower connectingframe connecting a second end of the first lower horizontal frame and acorresponding second end of the second lower horizontal frame.
 9. Theventilation apparatus of claim 7, wherein the exhaust fan is positionednext to the lower frame.
 10. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1,further comprising an interior air filter provided between the interiorair suction port and the interior air passage to filter interior airdirected into the interior air passage.
 11. The ventilation apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein the frame structure has an opening formed therein thatguides interior air toward the interior air passage, and wherein theframe structure further comprises a filter frame to which the interiorair filter is detachably coupled.
 12. The ventilation apparatus of claim11, wherein the filter frame connects the lower frame and the upperframe.
 13. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising aservice cover coupled to the frame structure so as to at least partiallycover a front surface of the frame structure.
 14. The ventilationapparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first service coverdetachably coupled to the frame structure so as to cover a front of theheat exchanger; and a second service cover detachably coupled to theframe structure so as to cover a front of the air supply fan and a frontof the exhaust fan.
 15. The ventilation apparatus of claim 14, furthercomprising an interior air filter positioned between the interior airsuction port and the interior air passage to filter interior air flowinginto the interior air passage, wherein a front end of the interior airfilter is exposed when the first service cover is detached from theframe structure.
 16. The ventilation apparatus of claim 15, furthercomprising an exterior air filter provided between the exterior airsuction passage and the exterior air passage to filter exterior airflowing into the exterior air passage, wherein a front end of theexterior air filter is also exposed when the first service cover isdetached from the frame structure.
 17. The ventilation apparatus ofclaim 16, wherein both the front end of the interior air filter and thefront end of the exterior air filter are covered by the first servicecover when the first service cover is attached to the frame.
 18. Theventilation apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: an interior airfilter positioned between the air suction port and the interior airpassage to filter interior air flowing into the interior air passage;and an exterior air filter provided between the exterior air suctionpassage and the exterior air passage to filter exterior air flowing intothe exterior air passage, wherein front edges of the exterior air filterand the interior air filter are covered when the first service cover isattached to the frame structure and exposed when the first service coveris detached from the frame structure.
 19. The ventilation apparatus ofclaim 14, further comprising: an exterior air filter provided betweenthe exterior air suction passage and the exterior air passage to filterexterior air flowing into the exterior air passage, wherein a front edgeof the exterior air filter is covered when the third service cover isattached to the frame structure and exposed when the third service coveris detached from the frame structure; and an interior air filterpositioned between the air suction port and the interior air passage tofilter interior air flowing into the interior air passage, wherein afront edge of the interior air filter is covered when the first servicecover is attached to the frame structure and exposed when the firstservice cover is detached from the frame structure.
 20. The ventilationapparatus of claim 14, wherein the exterior air suction passage isdefined by a bottom surface of the heat exchanger, a correspondingportion of the base, and a surrounding portion of the frame structure.21. The ventilation apparatus of claim 20, wherein the second servicecover is configured to cover fronts of the air supply fan, the exhaustfan and the exterior air suction passage together.
 22. A ventilationapparatus, comprising: a cabinet, comprising a rear panel having aninterior air discharge port and exterior air suction port formedtherein, a front panel having an interior air discharge port formedtherein, and a top panel having at least one exterior air discharge portformed therein; a support frame provided in the cabinet, with the rearpanel positioned at a rear of the support frame, the top panelpositioned at a top of the support frame, and the front panel detachablycoupled to a front of the support frame; at least one heat exchangerprovided in the cabinet and supported by the support frame, the at leastone heat exchanger having an interior air passage that guides interiorair therethrough and an exterior air passage that guides exterior airtherethrough; an exhaust fan that provides interior air to the interiorair passage; at least one air supply fan that provides exterior air tothe exterior air passage; at least one air flow chamber formed adjacentto an inlet end of the at least one heat exchanger so as to guideexterior air into the at least one heat exchanger; and a plurality ofservice covers detachably coupled to the front of the support frame andpositioned between the support frame and the front panel so as toselectively cover the at least one heat exchanger, the at least one airsupply fan and the exhaust fan, and the at least one air flow chamber.